[2cZ/y.] Comparing them with others was the hard case of old ; the pleading whereof by Job, David, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk, is so known, that I shall not need farther to insist upon it.
I shall not farther manifest this from the variety which is in the dispensations of God towards the men of the world, which the wisest of men can reduce to no rule of righteousness, as things pass among us. Solomon acquaints us with it, Eccles. ix. 11. Things are dis- posed of according to no rule that we may fix our expectations on ; Avhich ruined the reason of that mirror of mankind, in a natural con- dition, Marcus Brutus, and made him cry out, rfi tXtj/aov dpsr^.
(3dly.) Sudden alterations. As in the case of Job, God takes a man whom he hath blessed with choice of blessings, in the midst of a course of obedience and close walking with himself, when he ex- pected to die in his nest, and to see good all his days ; — ruins him in a moment ; blasts his name, that he who was esteemed a choice saint, shall not be able to deliver himself from the common esteem of a hypocrite ; slays his children ; takes away his rest, health, and every thing that is desirable to him. This amazes the soul ; it knows not what God is doing, nor why he pleads with it in so much bitterness. A man that either is, or may fall into such a condition, will find that he will never be able to walk with God in it, without humbling him- self to the law of his providence.
(4>thly.) Great, deep, and abiding distresses have the same effects with sudden alterations ; — of which more afterwards.
And these are, in general, some of the things in God's providential
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disposal of the tilings of men in this world, that are too hard and wonderful for flesh and blood; wherein his paths are in the deep; which are contrary to all rules of procedure that he hath given us to judge by, who are to judge of things but once, he being to call all things to a second account.
[2.] Having given these two observations, I return to what I first proposed, — namely, the duty of humbling ourselves to the law of the providence of God, so far as it concerns us in particular.
I do not intend merely that men, in general, should be content with the dealings of God in the world; but that we should humble our hearts to him in what falls to be our share therein, though it come under any one or more of the heads of difficulty before men- tioned. Our lots are various in this world : how they may be farther different before we go out of it we know not. Some are in one con- dition,— some in another. That we envy not one another, nor any in the world; that we repine not at God, nor charge him foolishly, — is that I aim at ; — -a thing sufficiently necessary in these days, wherein good men are too little able to bear their own condition, if in any thing it differs from [that of] others.
The next thing, then, is, to consider how and wherein we are to humble ourselves to the law of the providence of God. There are things on this account which our souls are to be humbled unto : —
First. His sovereignty. May he not do what he will with his own ? This is so argued out in Job that I shall need to go no farther for the confirmation of it. See chap, xxxiii. 8-13. The words are the sum of what was, or was apprehended to be, the complaint of Job, — that in the midst of his innocency and course of obedience, God dealt hardly with him, and brought him into great distresses. What is the reply hereunto? Verse 12, " Behold, in this thou art not just." It is a most unequal thing for any man to make any such complaints. Whether Job did so or not, may be disputed ; but for any one to do so, is certainly most unjust. But on what ground is that asserted? See the words following : " ' God is greater than man ; why strivest thou with him?' It is to no purpose to contend with him that is mightier than thou. And it is likewise unjust to do it with him, who is infinitely and incomparably so, upon the account of his absolute dominion and sovereignty. ' For/ saith he, ' He giveth no account of his matters/ He disposeth of all things as he will, and as he pleaseth." This is pursued to the utmost, chap, xxxiv. 18, 19. Men will not be forward openly to revile or repine against their governors ; and what shall be said of God, who is infinitely exalted above them? Hence you have the conclusion of the whole matter, verses 31—33.
This, I say, is the first thing that we are to humble ourselves unto. Let us lay our mouths in the dust, and ourselves on the ground, and
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say, " It is the Lord; I will be silent, because he hath done it. He is of one mind, and who can turn him ? He doth whatever he pleaseth. Am not I in his hand as clay in the hand of the potter? May he not make what kind of vessel he pleases ? When I was not, he brought me out of nothing by his word. What I am, or have, is merely of his pleasure. Oh, let my heart and. thoughts be full of deep subjec- tion to his supreme dominion and uncontrollable sovereignty over me ! " This quieted Aaron in his great distress; and David in his, 2 Sam. xv. 25, 26; and Job in his. It is pleaded by the Lord, Jer. x., Rom. ix. 11, and innumerable other places. If we intend to walk with God, we must humble ourselves to this, and therein we shall find rest.